Welcomehttp://www.kccurling.com
Sun, 02 Aug 2015 22:30:19 +0000Joomla! - Open Source Content Managementen-gbwam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling Club)How Far can I take Curlinghttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-programs/curling-outside-the-club.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-programs/curling-outside-the-club.htmlWith the Olympics, It is easy to see the pinnicle of curling every 4 years but curling has many things you can try as you improve your skills in our local league.

Camps

For those who want a concentrated experience working with top level instructors and talent, the United States Curling Association points out where you can go here Check it out.

Bonspiels (curling competition between clubs)

This weekend investment in time is the easiest way to pit your skills up against other curlers from other clubs. Our KC Barbecue Bonspiel in early August, has been know to fill, attracting as many as 32 teams both local and far away as Seattle and New York, Canada and Houston.

The United States Curling Association lists hundreds of speils each year. They range for light hearted fun spiel to very serious cash spiels for those who know they possess the skills.

Each spiel typically appeals to a specific audience. They can be for .....

Open - Anyone and Everyone

Male or Female - Gender Specific Spiels

Mixed - typically a specific arrangement of 2 men and 2 women alternating

Mixed Doubles - a modified curling match with just one man and one women.

Junior, Senior. 40 and Over, etc - Age Specific Spiels

Stick, Wheelchair - Equipment Specific

Under 5, Green - Experience related

Cash, Calcutta, - Money Prizes. Attracts competitive teams.

When playing in as spiel. You can expect a 3 or 4 games minimum that could lead to 4 to 6 possible games. You will likely need to take part or all of Friday off and many finish early enough on Sunday to get back before Monday. In the midwest, many spiels include food and your favorite beverage all weekend as part of the price to curl. ( $40-$100+ per person for weekend entertainment). Typically they expect you to bring a team of 4 but ours and others do accept individuals that we will put with others.

Overall, Bonspiels are a great way to meet other curlers, spend a weekend with some friends and still be back to work and your life on Monday.

Try a Bonpiel and you will wonder why you didn't get involved with curling sooner.

Championship

The United States Curling Association is the host to many Regional Playdowns that lead to National Playdowns and then some to World Championships each year.

This is serious curling. Once you start playing well locally and show great promise at Bonspiels, you should consider this on your way to the Olympics. The format is very similar to bonspiels in that there are gender and age related events, wheelchair and mixed doubles events.

There are two championships, we as a club we should set our sights on each year . Both events have a Mens and a Womens event and both event at club specific - meaning all four members must be a member of the Kansas City Curling Club to compete.

Club Nationals - to make it to this event, we must win our region to be able to attend this event. This requires time. While the regional event is mostly weekend time, the National event is played during the week.

Regionally it changes location and registeration ends in December.

Should you win, you can then compete against the other 10 regions in Mid February at a club designated by the USCA.

Arena Curling Championships. - is more of a bonspiel format, held over the weekend. These curlers as good but they typically play on "Hockey Ice" much like our club. so

The field is limited and we where excluded by lottery one year. Preregistation March 15th, Deadline May 15th.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 04 Feb 2014 23:01:02 +0000The 41 Action News morning team tries curlinghttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/420-the-41-action-news-morning-team-tries-curling.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/420-the-41-action-news-morning-team-tries-curling.htmlThe 41 Action News morning team is showing you Olympic events that you can try here in the Kansas City area. Monday, they learned the sport of curling with help from the KC Curling Club. Watch the video]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 11 Feb 2014 05:05:00 +0000Kansas City Curling Club playing host to big tournamenthttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/419-kansas-city-curling-club-playing-host-to-big-tournament.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/419-kansas-city-curling-club-playing-host-to-big-tournament.html

The smell of beer, the sound of furious sweeping and the sight of a man wearing a kilt on an ice rink can only be described with one word: bonspiel.

This weekend the Kansas City Curling Club’s 11th Annual Barbeque Bonspiel at Line Creek Community Center includes curlers from across North America. The event began Friday evening and will go through Sunday. This year marks the largest bonspiel (curling tournament) the KC Curling Club has ever hosted, with 128 curlers participating in the weekend’s events, 45 of which are local players.

Bill McBride’s love for curling began when he was 10 years old and a friend asked him if he wanted to throw rocks.

Jan 11th, our second leagues of our winter season kicked off with a full 10 teams on Saturday and 8 teams on Sunday. As seen here in this video While our Saturday time is full, we do have a handful of spots left for those wanting to play on Sunday and we will be posting one time openings for those wanting to play occasionally This also means we will be only offering Learn to Curl on Sunday.

Experienced curlers can play by clicking here , while Beginners should take our introducory learn to curl class to better inform them of the challenges of curling which will transition them into League play.

As the Olympics roll around. We have booked additional ice so we can offer our Learn to Curl to a greater number of people on Sat. Feb15 (5:40pm +), Thurs. Feb 20th (7:10pm-9:00pm), Sat. Feb. 22 (5:40pm +), Sunday Feb. 23 (8:40am), Thurs. Feb 27th (7:10pm-9:00pm), and many more to be added as needed.

We also are looking at adding a second Saturday session from 5:45pm-7:30 for our Spring 6 week league league for beginner curlers. A great way to ease yourself into a our league.

So far this season,

Our annual free open house in early October was a little light this year compared to past years with only 35-40 individuals participating at either our Saturday or Sunday event. We did collected a couple of grocery sacks worth of food for Harvester from those who participated.

The next few weeks is a great time to come out and try curling. We are offer a $20 curl Sat. Dec. 28th from 7:10pm for just $20. This typically attracts friends and family around for the holidays but everyone is welcome (space limited so register here soon) Also we will have another Learn to Curl the first weekend in January before we start our next 6 week league. the weekend of January 11th. A great way to ease yourself into a our league.

As for the season to date, Our annual free open house in early October was a little light this year compared to past years with only 35-40 individuals participating at either our Saturday or Sunday event. We did collected a couple of grocery sacks worth of food for Harvester from those who participated.

Channel 9 also helped us nicely in September to help promote the event, as both Stephanie Ramos and Matt Flener try their hand at curling. Check out the footage.

We have approximately 26 curlers commited to our Saturday League which means we have room currently to expand to fourty. Our Sunday League also has manage to to maintain 4-6 teams (12-18 curlers).

Experienced curlers can play by clicking here , while Beginners should take our introducory learn to curl class to better inform them of the challenges of curling and transition them into League play.

With the room we currently have ,dropins are welcome only since we presently do not look like we will be over booked . Though we anticiapate our next league starting in January will fill up. So feel free to register now.

Hope to see you on the ice.

Dan

We believe you will have a great time trying something new but don't take our word for it. Listen to these people to find out why Curling is ....

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTFri, 29 Mar 2013 05:08:40 +00002013 Summer Curlinghttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/360-2013-summer-curling.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/360-2013-summer-curling.htmlWhile most curling clubs close for the summer, We can offer curling nearly year round. and no, we will be curling on ice.

We will primarily curl on Saturday afternoon. though if interest is there we will expand to Sunday.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTThu, 21 Feb 2013 23:04:59 +00002012-2013 Winter Season underway. Not to late to start curling.http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/343-2012-2013-winter-season-to-get-underway.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/343-2012-2013-winter-season-to-get-underway.htmlOur Winter season starts the end of September and ends around the first of April , in which we havetwo opportunities nearly every week to curl. Choose either or both.

20 Week Season starting Oct. 6th & 7th Cost: $300 Free Broom to First Time Curlers. Curlers are welcome to curl the other session at no extra cost on a space available basis.

Several short 6 week leagues The first two starting October 20th & 21st. the next in January, and then Mid February. Cost: $80 for First Timer Curlers, $100 Curlers are welcome to curl the other session at no extra cost on a space available basis.

A play when you can Open Play and League Subbing offer throughout the season, available on a space available basis Cost: $20 each time you play. Registration posted about a week in advance to allow league curlers first chance to sign up.

Periodic Learn to Curls whenever a sheet is available. Cost: $20 each time.

Small groups can Rent a curling sheet for a group of 6-10. Cost $120. Call 816-806-1732 for availability.

For our complete one sheet downloadable pdf to post in your office or review., click here.

We believe you will have a great time trying something new but don't take our word for it. Listen to these people to find out why Curling is ....

Thanks to Canadian Curling Association for producing these great set of videos. Our members can relate and add to these experiences about this surprising energetic sport.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTMon, 10 Sep 2012 08:10:09 +0000CedarRapid Curling Clubhttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/346-cedarrapid-curling-club.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/346-cedarrapid-curling-club.htmlAnother club within 5 hours of Kansas City looks to start. Support this club. check out their website at http://cedarrapidscurling.wordpress.com/]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSat, 03 Nov 2012 23:51:44 +0000Club advertising on I-35/I-29http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/345-club-advertising-on-i-35-i-29.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/345-club-advertising-on-i-35-i-29.htmlThis will help us determine if this is cost benefical to do. The sign is near Armour Road and I-35 just north of the Paseo Bridge.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSat, 29 Sep 2012 22:56:03 +0000St. Joseph Curling Club Startshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/340-st-joseph-curling-club-starts.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/340-st-joseph-curling-club-starts.htmlA new curling club is hosting their first learn to curl the Weekend of August 10th and 11th at the Bode Ice Arena in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Britt Johnson, a former Kalamazoo Curler with the help of Missouri Western State University has acquire 2 set of curling stones with the hope to have another 2 sets within a year or two as they grow their club.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSun, 12 Aug 2012 03:46:02 +00009th Annual Bonspiel attracts the news.http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/339-9th-annual-bonspiel-attracts-the-news.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/339-9th-annual-bonspiel-attracts-the-news.html26 curling teams proved enough of a draw to attract two tv news crews and a star photographer to our under recognized sport outside of an Olympic Year. Help us further by, go to their website and commenting at the bottom of the story or posting their story links to your facebook page.

KCTV Channel 5

"Curling enthusiasts sweep across Kansas City ice"

{noscriptsource}<script type='text/javascript' src='http://KCTV.images.worldnow.com/interface/js/WNVideo.js?rnd=781906;hostDomain=www.kctv5.com;playerWidth=630;playerHeight=355;isShowIcon=true;clipId=7580241;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=Video%2520Player;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay'></script>{/noscriptsource}For the copy on the story by Journalist, Justin Schmidt (bio) go to KCTV Channel 5 NEWS

Fox News 4

"Curlers Hope Olympics Draws Attention to the Sport"

{noscriptsource}<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.js?video_pcode=o3ZXA6AW_ODSH73PHaEhBxcqUpwq&height=360&embedCode=lpcWJrNTr1ZyOKJQpe4S0IizATnocBIP&deepLinkEmbedCode=lpcWJrNTr1ZyOKJQpe4S0IizATnocBIP&width=640"></script>{/noscriptsource}For the copy on the story by Journalist, Monica Evans go to Fox News 4

We have less than 10 sports remaining for our upcoming HOT SHOTS Curling Camp which will be held from August 24-26 at the Oakville Curling Club.

Instructors include 2012 Grand Slam of Curling Players Champion John Epping, former Ontario Champion Sherry Middaugh, and international coaches Earle Morris, Cindy Bishop, and Wendy Morgan to name a few.

Group Rate: $109/room. The rate includes breakfast and access to shuttle bus between the hotel and Ardsley Curling Club. Reservations for the camp attendees: 1-888-287-9400. Mention ‘Ardsley Curling Club’ to receive the discount rate. Reservations need to be made by Sept 28 to get guaranteed room and rate. Reservations made after Sept 28 are subject to room availability.

The HOT SHOTS Curling Camps have been staging world class clinics since 1995 with international coaches and instructors providing on-ice and off-ice sessions from delivery to team building. As well, video analysis has been a key component of the camp, with each curler provided with a video of their delivery.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTWed, 11 Jul 2012 02:42:34 +0000EPIC Indoor Sports Fails - Formerly Pepsi Ice Midwesthttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/282-epic-indoor-sports-fails-formerly-pepsi-ice-midwest.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/282-epic-indoor-sports-fails-formerly-pepsi-ice-midwest.htmlAccording to Puckchaser.com The new owners of Epic have failed to make a profit and have plans to sell.

Click link above to read full account.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTThu, 27 Oct 2011 03:51:38 +0000Entertaining viewpoint from a person new to curlinghttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/175-entertaining-viewpoint-from-a-person-new-to-curling.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/175-entertaining-viewpoint-from-a-person-new-to-curling.htmlCheck out "SBNation's" auther: Spencer Hall as he give his take on the Roaring game.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTThu, 21 Jan 2010 00:00:41 +0000Billboard on I-29http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/323-billboard-on-i-29.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/323-billboard-on-i-29.htmlIn an attempt for greater exposure. We will be advertising on a digital bill board (8 seconds every 5 minutes or so for the next few weeks and then again in September till November) on the west side of I-35 just south of the armour exit. Let us know if you see it or since we can change the image what we should say to grab the publics interest. Image below is what is presently being displayed

Look around during league play or at a bonspiel. You will see almost as many sweeping techniques as there are curlers, and some of them are pretty entertaining. But watch a world or Olympic event – the participants’ techniques are strikingly similar. Everything is done to create maximum heat via pressure and velocity. Here Column by Jon Mielke provided by USA Curlingare some related things to strive for when you are modifying your sweeping technique to achieve maximum results:

Sweepers wear two grippers (sweeping with a slider on one foot is less safe and makes it more difficult to put maximum pressure on the ice)

Sweepers stand behind the back line when the shooter is in the hack and start moving down the sheet as the shooter goes into motion (this also facilitates good communications)

Sweepers’ feet move side to side in a shuffle movement (vs. walking down the sheet)

Sweepers face down the sheet and look up frequently (helps judge weight & need for sweeping)

There is one sweeper on each side of the stone

When sweeping, a sweeper’s head is over the head of the brush (this helps put maximum upper body weight on the brush head and thereby create maximum pressure and heat)

The shaft of the broom does not rest on a sweeper’s thigh (that would put pressure on the thigh and not on the ice)

Brushing motion is side to side and high velocity

When not sweeping, sweepers are still in a sweeping position (if you are not in position and the skip suddenly calls for sweeping, there will be a delay plus you may lose your balance with a related sudden movement)

Sweepers often sweep lightly and continuously to keep the running path clean (this also keeps them in position to respond quickly and safely for sudden sweeping calls)

It is also important to note that there are two basic body positions for sweepers. In one, the sweeper’s back is fairly vertical and the hands are roughly 1/3 and 2/3 of the way down the shaft of the broom. In the other position, the sweeper’s back is nearly horizontal, with one hand about halfway down the handle and the other hand within about a foot of the brush head.

Both of these positions are effective but the upright option is easier to teach and puts less stress on the lower back. More accomplished curlers may, however, want to experiment with the more horizontal option. In either case, the sweeper’s legs are angled away from the stone, putting the sweeper into a tripod position involving both feet and the head of the broom. This position transfers the maximum amount of body weight and pressure onto the head of the broom.

Whatever changes you make to your current technique will feel awkward, but don’t give up. Personally, I remember all the adjustments that I made over the years. I went from a corn broom to a brush, from sweeping with a slider to two grippers, from sweeping strictly on one side of the stone to being able to sweep on both sides, from sweeping with the handle of the broom on my thigh to getting all my body weight going down the broom and on to the ice, etc., etc., etc.

None of these changes came easy but they were all worthwhile, because effective brushing truly does contribute to winning the battle. It may even be the difference between winning and losing. Good shooting, by itself, does not win games, and good strategy, by itself, does not win games. Similarly, effective brushing, by itself, will not win games. But, all three taken together, along with good team communications and compatibility, are what it takes to be a really good team. Do your part and work at being a good sweeper. It really does make a difference.

Until next time – good curling!

(Jon Mielke is a Level III instructor and a Level III coach. He is the past chairman of the USCA’s Training & Instruction Committee and a member of Bismarck’s Capital Curling Club. All his previous training articles are available online at: USA Curling – Inside the USCA – CNews Columnists – Columns by Jon Mielke).]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTWed, 11 Jul 2012 02:27:33 +000010 Reason you should be Watching Curling in the Olympicshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/193-10-reason-you-should-be-watching-curling-in-the-olympics.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/193-10-reason-you-should-be-watching-curling-in-the-olympics.html

6. Every Player is Miked Up

“Mics make curling,” Saville says. “No other sport uses live microphones on every player.”...

“Throwing a rock only takes 20 seconds,” Saville explains, “but you might have five minutes of discussions between that. You have to find a non-linear way to tell the story on the ice. I think the player microphones really drive your telling of the story.”

4. Every Specialty Camera an Executive Producer Could Want

In addition to the 20 standard cameras, Saville’s team has five specialty cameras to work with: a jib; a Polecam pole camera; a POV for high, wide shots; a Hi-Motion super slo mo; and a roving ENG camera that gives color from the stands.

I expect you have seen plenty of e-mails about our current Summer League (Saturdays in July) and our Bonspiel (August 3-5). There is still time to participate in both!

There is a lot going on with the club these days. At the annual meeting held last June, we accomplished several items, including:

Elected Board Members and Officers. A list of board members and officers/committee members is attached. We welcome your involvement with any committee that interests you.

Discussed goals and ideas for working towards dedicated ice.

Planned out the bonspiel including committee assignments.

Supported the purchase of a deionization system for water for pebbling.

Initiated a T-Shirt design contest.

We have also rented time on a digital billboard on I-29/I-35 near the Bond Bridge so you may see a KC Curling advertisement as you drive by. Our ad runs once approximately every 8 minutes.

The next board meeting is July 9th at 6:30 PM at the Johnson County Library, Cedar Roe Branch (map) next to the Walmart. We welcome your input.

Chris Nazar

Club President

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSun, 08 Jul 2012 23:40:18 +0000New Colors - Fresh Markingshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/318-new-colors-fresh-markings.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/318-new-colors-fresh-markings.htmlLine Creeks has put in Fresh Markings and a new ice surface as of June 9th. This will start off our Summer Curling Program and Bonspeil just right. See you out there.]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 12 Jun 2012 11:59:40 +0000T-Shirt Design Competition - Win $100http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/316-t-shirt-design-competition.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/316-t-shirt-design-competition.html

Our club would like to spark your creative side by creating a competition for a new T-shirt design for the Kansas City Curling Club's 2012 season.

Winner gets $100 toward a league or bonspiel entry fee!

Design should be general in nature (no dates) though may allude to our bonspiel or the club or curling in general.

can be for the front or back, though a back design should include a small one color logo on the front.

Colors limited to 3-4 plus T-shirt color.

Gradation in color or full color printing will require a different unknown printer

Must be completed by July 1st, send to club@kccurling.com. To be judged and voted on by current board members.]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTWed, 06 Jun 2012 01:42:17 +0000Level I Certificationhttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/313-level-i-certification.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/313-level-i-certification.html15 curlers in our club took a level I certification program last summer during our bonspiel so they can help facilitate our "Learn to Curl" program as a volunteer instructor. Of those Sarah Wruck, Dan White and Kent Herstowski have completed their additional coarse work requirement and are now fully certified.]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 20 Mar 2012 00:57:03 +0000New Carts to move stoneshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/311-new-carts-to-move-stones.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/311-new-carts-to-move-stones.htmlBased on the Dallas/ Fort Worth Design. Our club has 4 carts that can move all 80 of our curling stones at once. That is roughly 900 pounds per part. The great part is that it eliminates the need to remove the stone from the cart to put in the freezer and then back on a cart to move to the rink. We only need to lift the rock on and off at the edge of the rink. Think about that next time you lift 3000lbs of rock.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSat, 17 Mar 2012 06:07:32 +0000St. Patrick Day Paradehttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/310-st-patrick-day-parade.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/310-st-patrick-day-parade.htmlSaturday, March 10th., 10 of our Kansas City curlers (as seen in photo minus Kent who took the photo) marched in the Snake Saturday Parade in the northland and handed out over 800 of our remaining business card to the thousands of parade watchers. I was a big event and something we should consider as an annual event.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSat, 17 Mar 2012 04:36:44 +0000Sound makes curling a good watchhttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/304-sound-make-curling-a-good-watch.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/304-sound-make-curling-a-good-watch.htmlThe "sports video group" takes a look at how the sounds of curling and the way it is acheived, bring out the ever popular game of curling in canada. View Article]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTWed, 11 Jan 2012 05:26:52 +0000St. Louis Starts Curling in Fairview Heightshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/257-st-louis-starts-curling-in-fairview-heights.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/257-st-louis-starts-curling-in-fairview-heights.htmlIt may not be in Missouri but another club has started and now represent the second closest curling club in KC. Behind the Aksarben Curling Club in Omaha, NB.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 09 Nov 2010 03:42:36 +0000Kansas City Curling makes Northland Lyfestyle magazinehttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/288-kansas-city-curling-makes-northland-lyfestyle-magazine.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/288-kansas-city-curling-makes-northland-lyfestyle-magazine.html"Curling sweeping up the competition" by Alexander Bush Click to read it now]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 01 Nov 2011 23:53:11 +00002011 Open House Dates Announcedhttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/279-open-house-dates-announced.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/279-open-house-dates-announced.htmlCurling continues on Saturday 6:25p for $15 per person. 8 People played last week. and we expect more this week.

The General Public & Members of the Curling Club are welcome to drop and watch the Olympic Curling Action. Ask Question, discuss strategy, root your team and country on. Next weeks games will also be posted here.

Homer takes Marge out for a romantic evening of ice skating and hand-holding, but upon entering the rink, they encounter a curling team practicing. Marge and Homer take to the ice and discover their love for the sport, and soon after, join the curling team and compete with them in the Olympic trials. Team Springfield claims the win and moves on to the 2010 Vancouver Games where Bob Costas (guest-voicing as himself) covers the action. Meanwhile, sleazy vendors introduce Lisa to the world of collecting Olympic pins, and before long, Lisa is hopelessly addicted.

Matt Tait, Lawrence Journal World talks to Ian Wolfe, Kansas City Curling Club

“It’s kind of like the every-day person’s sport,” Wolfe said. “The unique part is that some of the best curlers in the world still have full-time jobs. So it’s not that they’re dedicated to curling from the time they’re 5 years old and never stop. You can curl at any age. You don’t necessarily peak when you’re 22 years old. Some of the best curlers in the world are actually in their 50s.”

"And then, I arrived. In my first attempt to learn the trademark curling slide necessary to propel the 40-pound icy rock toward the round target (called the house), I failed to execute the preferred form. Sprawled cartoonishly on the ground, arms extended and legs splayed, I looked more like a perp who’d been hit by a Taser. "

“There’s a great strategy to the game, and when you watch curling at the Olympic level you really see it in play,” said Chris Nazar, a native of the Toronto area who came to Kansas City for a job transfer. “Oh, it’s definitely a sport. You break a sweat when you’re sweeping.”

*Sweep This! If you’ve ever watched the Winter Olympics on TV and wondered how a bunch of people sliding rocks across the ice and sweeping with brooms became a sport, let alone an Olympic sport, you’re not alone. While curling hasn’t exactly gone mainstream here in the United States, it’s a national obsession north of the border. REAL SPORTS correspondent Bernard Goldberg travels to Canada to see what all the excitement’s about and visits Duluth, Minn., to take an inside look at the sport with a bartender, substitute teacher, construction worker and parole officer, aka the U.S. Olympic Curling team. Interviews include: U.S. Curling team members – John Benton, Phil Drobnick (coach), Jeff Isaacson, Chris Plys, John Shuster and Jason Smith; Toronto Globe columnist Bob Weeks; Canadian curler Glenn Howard; Ice maker Mark Shurek; amateur curler Eleanor McKitrick.

Winter SportsThe Winter Olympics are taking place this month in Vancouver, and while Kansas City is not logically associated with skiing and snowboarding, a few winter sports events do have a surprisingly lively presence in our area. Tune in as we talk to members of local curling and ski clubs about how Olympic fever builds interest and excitement for their respective sports, and what it’s like to be winter sports enthusiasts right here in river city.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTThu, 04 Feb 2010 06:36:23 +0000How they Train: Curlinghttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/178-how-they-train-curling.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/178-how-they-train-curling.htmlTimes' Sean Gregory talks to the 2010 Men's Olympic Team about Curling.
{youtube}7ExtlBUtBnU&hl|450|300|1{/youtube}]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTWed, 27 Jan 2010 14:03:07 +0000Best Curling Bloghttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/158-best-curling-club.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/158-best-curling-club.htmlCurlnews.blogspot.com seems to be on the pulse of curling and continues to offer up gems on the latest and greatest of curling]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTWed, 11 Nov 2009 07:59:12 +0000Reality Curling - Can you be a rockstar?http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/71-rockstar.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/club-news/71-rockstar.htmlRockStar Curling may have gone down in flames as a TV Reality Show, but you ever wanted to be an Olympic Curler, you have to give it a try to see if you have the right stuff..

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 06 Oct 2009 06:49:49 +0000Tahoe Thin-Air Bonspiel - Oct 2-4thhttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/423-tahoe-thin-air-bonspiel-oct-2-4th.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/423-tahoe-thin-air-bonspiel-oct-2-4th.htmlHello fellow curlers! I am the president of Lake Tahoe Epic Curling, founded in 2013. We are proud to announce our first-ever bonspiel, the Tahoe Thin-Air Bonspiel, taking place this October 2-4 in beautiful Lake Tahoe. Registration begins tonight at midnight, and we would like to invite you and all of your curlers to join us at 6,224 feet for curling and fun!

The 2015 End of Summerspiel will be held Friday, September 25, 2015 - Sunday, September 27, 2015.

The Fort Wayne End of Summerspiel is an annual early season event to celebrate the end of summer and the start of curling season. This event features: excellent ice and an awesome bonspiel experience including:

3 excellent sheets of ice, expected to be roughly 24.5 second ice with roughly 4 feet of swing

18 teams from all over the U.S. (and maybe Canada) - only a limited number of teams from Fort Wayne

A 3-game guarantee

All meals included

Excellent viewing area

A full bar featuring 3 kegs of beer, bottled beer, wine and hard liquor (including shots and a broomshooter)

Hyatt Place - 111 West Washington Center Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 - 260-471-8522 - 3.0 miles away from the club

Registration is $400 per team

Location : Fort Wayne Curling Club

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 28 Jul 2015 20:20:22 +0000Houston , we have a Bonspiel - September 5- 6, 2015 http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/422-houston-we-have-a-bonspiel-september-5-6-2015.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/422-houston-we-have-a-bonspiel-september-5-6-2015.htmlJoin us for the first bonspiel in our new home, the Bellerive Ice Center.

This will be a 16 team, two day event, with a 3 game guarantee, and an entry fee of $400 per team.

The bonspiel will take place on Saturday and Sunday, September 5-6. View the Flyer.

To sign up click the Registration button at the bottom of this page. You can choose to pay through PayPal at the end of the registration process, or you can send a check payable to "Curlng Club of Houston" to this address:

Additional Weekend Events

On Friday night will be going to Minute Made Park in downtown Houston to watch the Astros play the Twins, followed by a Star Wars themed fireworks show at the ball park. Tickets for the game are $20 each. Sign up and pay for your tickets here.

Saturday evening Texas A&M plays Arizona State in the Avocare Texas Kickoff at NRG Stadium(formerly Reliant Stadium). We don't have an organized group attending the game, but anyone who plans to go can request the 10am draw on Saturday and your second game will start at 3pm to give you time to get to the stadium by 6pm.

September 18-20, 2015

Dakota Curling Burnsville, MN

Open format for up to 24 teams

Three game guarantee

$340 team entry fee includes meals, pop, and beer

Friday night is home brew night.

If you're a home brewer or winemaker feel free to bring something to shareSaturday night banquet and Pirate PartyNote: Each team will be asked to bring ONE bottle or a six pack of beer (minimum value of $10) to donate to our Wheel of Fortune game. Please bring something you'd like to drink yourself. Thanks!

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTFri, 17 Jul 2015 20:52:03 +00005th International Curling Open Air Tournament – Südtirol Cup 2016 19. – 21. February 2016http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/416-5th-international-curling-open-air-tournament-suedtirol-cup-2016-19-21-february-2016.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/416-5th-international-curling-open-air-tournament-suedtirol-cup-2016-19-21-february-2016.htmlThe Curling Club Niederdorf is the first active Curling Club in South Tyrol, Italy, and the organizer of the “Südtirol Curling Cup”.

Beautiful scenery, genuine hospitality, friendly atmosphere and international participation are our signature trademarks. This year we have 26 teams from all over the world, back to the heart of the Dolomites, Lago di Braies lake.

So we are pleased to invite you to the

19. – 21. February 2016

Niederdorf/Villabassa – Prags/Braies, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

We’d be really happy if we could welcome you again or a team of your Club taking part in our open air tournament here in Villabassa/Alta Pusteria, taking place on the surface of the scenic Lake Braies in the heart of the Dolomites.

You’ll find all kind of information about the event on our website www.curlingcup-suedtirol.it. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us! We’d appreciate if you would forward this invitation to your club members. Thank you!

Just a few impressions of 2015 https://www.flickr.com/photos/curlingcup

The CedarSpiel will take place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday August 14-16, 2015.This is an open bonspiel with 32 teams, a 4 game guarantee, and 6 events. First draws begin Friday morning. Registration CedarSpiel includes:

The Oklahoma Curling Club will host its first ever bonspiel this coming fall. The "Oklahoma Oilspiel" will take place on the club's home ice at the Arctic Edge Ice Arena in Edmond on the weekend of September 20-22, 2013. The bonspiel is open for up to 24 teams from across the country and has a 3 game minimum. Download the registration form today!Bonspiel organizer Jessie Hopper can be reached by email here.

Bill McBride would like to take team. If interested contact him at 816-523-2345

DebbieMcCormicks Proshop did quite well selling Goldline merchandise to lots of new and aspiring curlers. So much so that the club recieved a $250 merchandise credit as a thank you.

All 24 teams, participated. Of note, We were represented by a fair number of clubs in the newly formed Mid America Curling Association (MACA). This region includes the following states: Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana. This union of curling clubs will put us over 750 members in our region and gives us 2 votes at General Assemblies.

The newly formed, Cedar Rapids Curling Club was represented by past members of our club who helped us restart our club in 2003,. We wish them good curling as they push forward.

Our furthest curlers came from Utica (NY) and Petersham (MA). Several clubs were very well represented including five teams from Wauwatossa and three from Oklahoma. Dallas has returned 4 times running. While the Dakota Curlers sit at 3 years in a row. All in all, we want to thank all the teams that have made our spiels as much fun for us as we hope it was for them. For a complete list go to http://www.kccurling.com/club-news/27-news/366-2013-bonspiel-teams

A special shout out must go to the helpers that make it look so easy. Lucy Valliencourt, and her crew (Food). Chris Baker who oversaw and put the program together, Chris Nazar, Don Baker , Kyle Baker and Sarah Wruck who pulled in the most money for a raffle ever. Dan White, Jeff Miles and Crew who oversaw the ice prep. and Most importantly, Dave Huston who put in all the hard work bringing us the tastiest barbecue to date.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTSun, 01 Sep 2013 09:04:45 +0000Four Seasons Open Summer Bonspielhttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/361-four-seasons-open-summer-bonspiel.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/361-four-seasons-open-summer-bonspiel.htmlThe brand new Four Season Curling ClubClub in Blaine MN, near St. Paul has opened a 6 sheet year round curling club at the Fogerty Ice Arena.

All attempts will be made to find a spot for individual registrants.Out of town teams will be given preference for later draw times, in an attempt to accommodate their travel needs. Flyer (pdf)Registration Form (pdf)]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTThu, 20 Dec 2012 23:28:08 +0000Dakota Curling Club Pirate Bonspiel 2012 http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/338-dakota-curling-club-pirate-bonspiel-2012.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/338-dakota-curling-club-pirate-bonspiel-2012.htmlDakota Curling Club Pirate Bonspiel 2012Less than 7 hours from KC.

Format : Open Standard 3-day knockout format with 3 game guarantee.

- No roster requirements other than your team must include 4 different physical human beings who are not also on another team.

- We want you to look uncomfortable in your piratey awesomeness. The whole point is to win while wearing something you definitely shouldn't "win" in.

$300 Team Entry Fee includes food and beverages. Prizes for Best Costume and Best Pirate Accent and possibly more.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 19 Jun 2012 10:42:34 +0000Mankato Bonspielshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/303-mankato-bonspiels.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/303-mankato-bonspiels.htmlMankato is the largest and closest dedicated rink to KC (about 6.5 hours by car) They offer many bonspiels for different ages groups of which our club has attended a number. Ice plays well and the newly fixed roof has been a plus.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTThu, 22 Dec 2011 03:49:19 +00002011 Barbecue Bonspiel Resultshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/297-2011-barbecue-bonspiel-results.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/297-2011-barbecue-bonspiel-results.htmlWe had 28 teams compete in the 2011 Annual Barbecue Bonspiel, but it was the "Off Kilter Curlers" from the Chicago Curling Club that grabbed top honors that weekend. Overall, the team uniforms, team names, great curling attitude, and great curling all made it a very special weekend for our club.

16 teams traveled to the city of fountains, home of great jazz/blue and barbecue. They included our farthest travelers (Long Island Curling Club) from New York. Closest Travelers (Aksarben Curling Club) in Nebraska. as well as curlers from the Broadmoor Curling Club (CO) Denver Curling Club (CO), St. Louis Curling Club (IL), Fargo Curling Club(ND), Madison Curling Club(WI), Dallas/Fort Worth Curling Club (TX), Houston Curling Club (TX) Dakota Curling Club(MN) St. Paul Curling Club (MN), Circle City Curling Club (IN), and 3 whole teams from the Oklahoma Curling Club,

Illinois Curling Association has graciously agreed to allow the At-Large Region which include the Kansas City Curling club to playdown for men's and women's club nationals and mixed nationals at the same time as Illinois holds its playdowns. These dates are:

Men's/Women's playdown at Exmoor in Chicago: January 26-29 The USCA entry deadline was Nov. 30.

]]>wam@kccurling.com (Kansas City Curling)ROOTTue, 29 Nov 2011 03:19:10 +00002010 Kansas City Curling Club Barbecue Bonspiel Resultshttp://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/251-2010-kansas-city-curling-club-barbecue-bonspiel-results.html
http://www.kccurling.com/curling-news/traveling/251-2010-kansas-city-curling-club-barbecue-bonspiel-results.htmlThe Kansas City Curling Club’s Seventh Annual Barbecue Bonspiel went fully international this year. For the first time the Bonspiel featured an all Canadian final in the First Event. The Kansas City Curling Club held their annual Barbecue Bonspiel on August 27 to 29, 2010 at Pepsi Ice Midwest in Overland Park, Kansas. Sixteen teams took to the ice on the newly renovated ice surface thanks to a new concrete floor. Teams included representatives from Dallas-Fort Worth, Oklahoma City, Wichita, Ajax Ontario, Ste. Anne Manitoba, and Kansas State as well as local Kansas City Curling Club members.

In the Third Event Final, Kansas City’s own Wolfe Pack (Ian Wolfe, Eric Wolfe, Dan Searles, and Lucie Vaillancourt) were triumphant against the Wichita House Crashers Rink (Christopher Bohn-Gettler, Andrew Biemers, John Baalman, and Keith Means). In the Fourth Event Final, the House Wreckers Rink (Anne Barthel, Sarah Wruck, Mary Miller, and Heidi Matthews) out lasted the Snow Cones Rink (Patrick Weitekamp, Lori Behnke, Chris Hutchings, and Matt Mayfield). Both rinks are from the Kansas City Curling Club.

Participants also enjoyed great hospitality provided by Kansas City Curling Club Members including a delicious barbecue dinner prepared by Elmer Arians, Colin Arians, and Dave Huston. The Bonspiel also included an Opening Ceremony led by pipers Jason and Steven Hough and a draw to the button contest won by Mary Miller of the Kansas City Curling Club.

The club would like to thank all of the club members who donated their time, raffle prizes, food, and other items and the ice staff at Pepsi Ice Midwest who helped to make the event a great success.